Fluid control device



May 19,1970

Filed April 21, 1967 R. F. O'KEEFE FLUID CONTROL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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INVENTOR. Fofiewl j? Ofikefe A TTOANE) May 19, 1970 I R. F. OKEEFE FLUID CONTROL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 21. 1967 INVENTOR. Eoemf I Owes/e 1am 0am ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,512,558 FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Robert F. OKeefe, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to Pitney- Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed Apr. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 632,619 Int. Cl. Fl5c 1/18, 5/00 US. Cl. 137-815 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A substantially flat, laminar plate-like device having a plurality of identical fluid control elements formed therein and sealed from atmosphere except for main fluid inlet and outlet passageways and auxiliary control fluid inlet passageways, and having access means on one surface of the plate which communicate with all the passageways and which can be selectively interconnected to achieve a variety of fluid logic circuits between the air inlet and outlet passageways, the latter being utilized for control functions.

CROSS-REFERENCES This invention is related to the inventions disclosed in co-pending patent applications Ser. No. 554,463, now Pat. No. 3,469,593, filed in the name of Robert E. OKeefe, and Ser. No. 564,305 now abandoned, filed in the names of Thomas Germaine and Robert OKeefe, both assigned to the assignee of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in fluid control devices and particularly to improved means providing for selective interconnection of a plurality of fluid control elements whereby a wide variety of fluid logic circuits can be readily obtained.

Principles of the invention are illustrated, by Way of a preferred embodiment, in a multi-layer panel-like structure having a base plate, one surface of which is grooved to form a pattern of channels which define a plurality of substantially identical fluid control elements. Each element has input mean-s and output means which communicate through the base plate with the surface thereof opposite to the surface in which the fluid logic elements are formed. Means are provided on the said opposite surface for facilitating easy and rapid interchangeable connection of selected input and output means of the several fluid control elements to obtain a desired fluid logic circuit. Another plate is superposed on the first mentioned surface of the base plate, with a suitable sealing gasket, interposed betweed the plates to effectively seal the fluid control elements from atmosphere except through the above-mentioned inlet and outlet means.

The particular fluid control element utilized with the illustrated embodiment of the invention is fully described and illustrated in the above-noted application Ser. No. 554,463. Accordingly, the control device herein disclosed is provided with a connecting means for the fluid output line of each control element, which connecting means may have provision for connection to more than one external fluid conducting conduit, and an individual connecting means for each auxiliary fluid input line of each fluid control element. In addition, the base plate is provided with an input pressure fluid manifold which is grooved into the surface of the base plate and communicates with a main input line of each control element, the input manifold having a single connecting means on the opposite surface of the base plate for connection to a source of pressure fluid.

3,512,558 Patented May 19, 1970 M I CC The present invention thus provides a simple, compact and highly eflicient means for confining a large number of individual fluid control elements which can be Selectively interconnected to form fluid logic circuits, such as multiple control signal input gates having a desired on or off output control signal depending on the nature of control input signals.

A device according to the present invention possesses certain distinctive advantages over heretofore known structures. For example, a device of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned application Ser. No. 564,305, in which a plurality of fluid control elements are internally interconnected by channels formed in plates which form part of a multi-layer structure, lacks fiexability once it is designed and assembled, and it must be rearranged with different preformed plates in order to change the fluid logic circuitry. With the present invention, on the other hand, the circuitry may be changed without any modification of the basic panel constituting the fluid control device, and this may be accomplished with a minimum of time and effort when the need for change of circuitry arises. Further, since only the fluid control elements are formed in the pane] structure itself and the interconnecting means are external thereto and accessible, a more compact unit is provided which can be permanentl mounted in a desired control apparatus and utilized to obtain any desired control function without substantial disassembly of the control apparatus.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fluid control device which has multiple control function capability without requiring any disassembly of the basic control device.

Another object is to provide a fluid control device in which a plurality of fluid control element-s having external readily accessible fluid input and output terminals are formed in a compact unitary plate-like assembly which is suitable for installation in small areas and for convenient mounting in groups where two or more such devices are required.

Another object is to provide a fluid control device which is highly reliable in operation, is inexpensive to manufacture and requires little or no maintenance.

Other object-s and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from an understanding of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, with intermediate portions broken away for clarity, of a fluid control device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, broken as in FIG. 1, of the reverse side of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of several illustrative fluid logic circuits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and particularly .to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid control device comprises a generally flat substantially rectangular multi-layer panel 10, which, as best seen in FIG. 2, comprises a grooved and perforate base plate '12 and an imperforate cover means comprising a thin sheet of incompressible plastic film .1-4, a compressible sealing gasket 16, and a rigid cover plate 18. In actual practice, the sheet 14 of incompressible plastic is transparent while the sealing gasket 16 is made of cork and therefore is not transparent. However, for the sake of clarity in FIG. 1, both of these layers as well as the cover layer 18 are illustrated as being transparent to reveal the details of the fluid elements. The layers 12, 14, 16 and 18 are secured together to form the panel by means of a plurality of rivets 22 which extend through aligned bores formed in the several layers.

The functions of the incompressible plastic sheet 14 and the compressible gasket 16 are that the sheet 14, which directly overlies the channel forming grooves of the fluid control elements hereinafter to be described, is sufficiently incompressible so that it will not depress into the channels when it is squeezed by the rivets 22, and yet is flexible enough to follow the contours of the plate 12 if the latter is not absolutely flat. The cork layer 16 is compressible to assure an airtight seal between the plate 12 and the incompressible layer 14 in the event that the contours of the adjacent surfaces of the plate 12, the sheet 14 and the cover plate do not match perfectly.

The base plate 12 is of prime importance to the present invention since it contains the essential components of the fluid control device. The upper surface 24 of the base plate 12 is grooved to form a series of channels and cavities which effectively define a plurality of fluid control elements, all of the elements being generally elongate and disposed on the surface of the plate in spaced substantially parallel relationship. All of the elements are identical and comprise an elongate fluid interaction chamber 26 having a main fluid input line 28 communicating with one end thereof and a fluid output line 30 axially aligned with the input line 28 and communicating with the opposite end of the chamber 26. It will be observed from FIG. 2 that the chamber 26 is substantially greater in depth within the plate 12 than the fluid lines 28 and 30, as is also true of other lines hereinafter to be described. The output line 30 communicates with a bore 32 extends laterally through the plate 12 to the rear surface 34 thereof.

The chamber 26 is also provided with a pair of bores 36 and 38 disposed adjacent to the output end of the chamber 26, these bores also extending laterally through the plate 12 to the rear surface thereof. These bores are adapted to communicate with the ambient atmosphere as will be more readily apparent hereinafter.

A plurality of auxiliary control fluid input lines 40, 42. 44 and 46 are provided which communicate laterally with the chamber 26 adjacent the input end thereof, these channels also communicating respectively with bores 50, 52, 54 and 56 which extend laterally through the plate 12 to the rear face thereof. The lines 40, 42, 44 and 46 are control lines for applying a control input signal from a command souce of pressure fluid, and function to change the mode of operation of the fluid control element as will be more clearly explained hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a plurality of hollow bosses are integrally formed on the rear surface 34 of the plate 12. Specifically, a boss 60 having a bore 62 is positioned to have its bore aligned with the bore 32 connecting with the output line 30; and bosses 63, 65, 67 and 69 are positioned to have their bores 70, 72, 74 and 76 respectively aligned with the bores 50, 52, 54 and 56 of the four auxiliary control fluid input lines. These bosses are adapted to have external fluid conducting conduits, such as flexible plastic tubes or the like, removably connected thereto so as to interconnect various parts of the several fluid logic elements or for connection to external devices.

As thus far described, all of the fluid control elements are identical in configuration on both faces of the base plate 12. A significant feature of the present fluid control device is the provision of a common fluid input manifold incorporated into the plate 12 which interconnects the main fluid input lines 28 of all of the fluid control elements with a single source of fluid pressure. Thus, the upper face 24 of the plate 12 is grooved to provide an elongate channel 80 which is generally rectangular and extends substantially the length of the panel 10, the channel 80 being wide enough to have suflicient volumetric capacity to simultaneously supply all of the fluid logic elements with an ample flow of fluid to operate properly. Substantially intermediate the manifold channel is a bore 82 extending laterally through the plate 12 to the rear surface, and a boss 84 having a bore 86 aligned with the bore 82 is integrally formed on the rear surfact for connection to a fluid conducting conduit which in turn is connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure.

As best seen in FIG. 2, connector means are provided to facilitate the connection of the several bosses above described to the external fluid conducting conduits, the connector means preferably taking the form of adaptors shaped to fit over the bosses and having a reduced diameter portion over which the end of the fluid conducting conduit is placed. The adaptor 90 shown on the auxiliary control input boss 69 has only one reduced diameter extension 92, the latter having a bore 94 communicating with the bore 86 in the boss 84.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a number of adaptors which have more than one such reduced diameter portion so that more than one fluid conducting conduit can be connected to the output line of a single fluid control element. Thus, the adaptor 96 shown on the output boss 60 has two reduced diameter portions 98, each having a bore communicating with the output bore 62. It will be understood that a plurality of a single connection adaptors are provided which are shaped to fit over the bosses 63, 65, 67 and 69 of the auxiliary control fluid input bores 50, 52, 54 and 56 respectively, whereby the output of any one control element can be connected to an auxiliary control fluid input line of more than one other control element or to more than one fluid pressure responsive controlled device.

Each individual fluid control element operates in the following manner. Fluid, gas or liquid under suitable pressure is admitted into the main input line 28 from the manifold 80 and flows therefrom into the interaction chamber 26 with a substantially laminar flow characteristic that impinges directly upon the output line 30 with substantial pressure in relation to the input pressure. Thus a fluid flow of relatively high pressure is obtained at the output line 30 which may be directed as desired by the boss 60 and bore 62. However, if a control input signal from a command source is introduced by fluid flow in any of the auxiliary input lines 40, 42, 44 or 46, the laminar flow through the chamber 26 of the air from the main input line 28 is changed to a constrained turbulent flow and the fluid now impinges on the output line 30 with very little or substantially no pressure recovery. The air from input line 28 and the auxiliary fluid input line is vented to atmosphere via the holes 36 and 38. Thus the introduction of the control input signal has changed the mode of operation of the fluid control element from laminar to constrained turbulent flow with a resulting pressure reduction at the output line 30. The pressure differential existing at the output line 30 between laminar and constrained turbulent flow in the interaction chamber 26 may be sensed and utilized for any desired control function.

The fluid flow in chamber 26 remains turbulent so long as the control input signal through any of the lines 40, 42, 44 or 46 continues. However, upon termination of the control input signal, the flow of fluid in the interaction chamber 26 returns to laminar, thus again changing the mode of operation of the fluid control element. It will thus be seen that the fluid amplifier is monostable, and in terms of logic constitutes a NOR gate for the reason that an on signal existing in any of the auxiliary control input lines 40, 42, 44 or 46 is effective to produce an off signal at the output line 30.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the device as seen from the rear surface 34 of the plate 12. It will be seen that the boss 60 aligned with the output bore 30 and the bosses 63, 65, 67 and 69, aligned respectively with the auxiliary control fluid input bores 50, 52, 54 and 56, for any given control element are all located in an area 100 of the surface 34 delineated by lines 102, 104, 106, and 108, referring particularly to the area indicated as #1. In addition, the four rows of bosses 63, 65, 67 and 69 communicating with the control input bores are labeled A, B, C and D at each end of the plate 12. This indicia greatly facilitates the interconnection of the output bore of any one or more control elements with selected auxiliary input bores of any one or more other elements as more particularly described hereinafter in connection with FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a number of illustrative ways in which the individual fluid amplifiers may be interconnected to achieve a variety of logic circuits, it being understood that the circuits shown are merely exemplary of the great variety of circuits available to perform a desired control function. In the drawing, fluid amplifiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are each connected to the input manifold via their respective input lines 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d, and their respective output lines 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d are connected via external fluid conducting conduits 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d to the four auxiliary control input lines c, 42c, 44c and 460 respectively of fluid amplifier 5, the main input line 28e of which is also connected to the input manifold 80. Thus an output signal from any of the amplifiers 1, 2, 3, or 4 constitutes a control input signal for amplifier 5. Control input signals are provided to the auxiliary control input lines 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d of amplifiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively via external fluid conducting conduits 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d which are connected to any suitable devices capable of effecting fluid flow in the conduits 33a, 33b, 330 or 33d in response to the occurance or non-occurance of an event, as the case may be.

From the structure thus far described, it will be seen that if there is no fluid flow in any of the conduits 33a, 33b, 330 or 33d, amplifiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 will operate in a laminar mode, thereby providing four control input signals to amplifier 5, any one of which is effective to keep amplifier 5 in a constrained turbulent mode of operation which effectively produces an off signal at the output line 30a of this amplifier. In order to change to mode of operation of amplifier 5, it is necessary to interrupt the four control input signals, which can only be accomplished by changing the mode of operation of amplifiers 1 through 4 from laminar to constrained turbulent so that there is effectively an off signal at each of the output lines 30a, 30b, 30c and 3001. This, in turn, can only be accomplished by providing a control input signal in each of the control input lines 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d. It is thus apparent that amplifiers 1 through 5 constitute an AND gate since it requires an on signal at each of the four command sources to produce an on signal at the output line 30a of amplifier 5.

The AND gate made up of amplifiers 1 through 5 may be readily converted to a NAND gate simply by connecting the output line 30c of amplfiier 5 to any one of the auxiliary input lines, such as 42 of amplifier 6 by means of external conduit 312. It will now be seen that an on signal at all of the command sources, i.e., control input lines 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d will produce an effective off signal at the output line 30 and in the conduit 31; connected to any desired controlled device.

As indicated above each of the fluid logic elements constitutes a NOR gate for the reason that an on signal at any auxiliary control input line produces an effective olf" signal at the element output line. The NOR gate may be converted to an OR gate merely by connecting the output line of one amplifier to an auxiliary input line of another. Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, fluid amplifier 12 constitutes a NOR gate at its output line 30g since fluid flow in any of the control lines 33g will change the operative mode of the amplifier from laminar to constrained turbulent and thereby produce an effective off signal at the output line 30g. However, by connecting the output line 30g of amplifier 12 to one of the auxiliary input lines, such as 40h, of amplifier 13 via conduit 31g, the opposite effect is achieved at the output line 30h and a conduit 31h connected thereto so that any on control input signal applied to amplifier 12 produces an on signal at the output line of amplifier 13. Thus the two amplifiers together constitute an OR gate.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a fluid control device which achieves the abovementioned objects and advantages in a novel and effective manner.

I claim:

1. A fluid control device comprising:

(A) a plate having opposed substantially planar surfaces,

(B) one surface of said plate having channels formed therein to define a plurality of substantially identical and separate fluid control elements, said elements being generally elongate and being arranged in side by side parallel relationship on said plate, each of said elements having a main fluid input line, a fluid output line, at least one control fluid input line, exhaust means communicating with ambient atmosphere, and a substantially enclosed fluid interaction chamber connecting all said fluid input and output lines and said exhaust means and operable to effect a sensible pressure change at said output line in response to a change in the condition of fluid flow in said control fluid input line,

(C) means formed in said plate for interconnecting all said main fluid input lines to a common source of fluid under pressure,

(D) cover means secured to saidone surface of said plate for sealing said fluid logic elements from ambient atmosphere, and

(E) means formed integrally with said plate and communicating with the opposite surface of said plate for removably connecting external fluid conducting conduits to said interconnecting means for the main fluid input lines, to said control fluid input lines and to said fluid output lines whereby said plurality of fluid control elements may be selectively and interchangeably interconnected to form fluid logic circuits.

2. A fluid control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means communicating with the opposite surface of said plate for connecting external fluid conducting conduits comprises lateral bores extending through said plate from said means for interconnecting said main fluid input lines, from said fluid output lines and from said control fluid input lines, and hollow bosses formed integrally with said opposite surface of said plate and communicating with said lateral bores, said bosses being adapted for connection to the external fluid conducting conduits.

3. A laminated fluid control device comprising:

(A) first board means having a plurality of grooves formed in one face thereof so as to effectively define a plurality of individual and separate'fluid control elements each having an emitter port, a collector port, a venting port, at least one control port, and a substantially enclosed fluid interaction chamber connecting all said ports, said elements being generally elongate and being arranged in side by side parallel relationship on said plate,

(B) second board means disposed over said one face of said first board means so as to close the open portion of said grooves,

(C) means for sealingly securing said first and second board means together and,

(D) a plurality of individual conduit means integrally formed wtih and extending away from an outer surface of one of said board means, said conduit means respectively communicating with said collector ports and said control ports and being adapted to receive and be coupled to selectively and externally applied fluid conducting means so as to permit variable fluid circuits to be established using two or more of said fluid control elements.

4. A fluid control device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said conduit means is integrally formed on said first board means.

8 5. A fluid control device as set forth in claim 3 where- 3,362,422 1/1968 Toma 137-81.5 in said conduit means is integrally formed on said second 3,416,551 12/ 1968 Kinner 137-815 board means.

References Cited UNITED OTHER REFERENCES R. F. Langley and P. B. Schulz, Modular Pneumatic STATES PATENTS 5 Logic Package, in I.B.M. Technical Disclosure Bulletin,

Wadey X vol. 6, No. 5, October 1963, pp. 3 and 4. Severson 137-81.5 X Joesting M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner Norwood 137-8l.5 10 W. R. CLINE, Assistant Examiner 

